Perhaps for the first time this tournament the absence of Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks will be felt.

The Russian government is also doing its part to tempt England fans to join Gareth Southgate's men in Moscow on Wednesday for the semi-final against Croatia by offering a fast-track visa service.

"A warning has been issued for such violation as well as for the infringement of the FIFA Equipment Regulations due to the display of a personal message by the player Danijel Subasic after the end of the said match". Huge "thanks" to the guys for their performances, the emotions and the unforgettable memories. When captain Igor Akinfeev and talisman Artem Dzyuba were handed the microphone to address the fans, all of Vorobyovy Gory was drowned out in applause.

Defender Sergei Ignashevich thanked people "for the kind words" in a Instagram post.

"I could never have imagined that I would finish my football career on such a high note! I would like to become a coach, a good coach", he added.

Belgium's team players take part in a training session of Belgium's national football team at the Guchkovo Stadium in Dedovsk, outside Moscow, on July 8, 2018, ahead of their Russian Federation 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against France.

"We expect a very hard, tight and demanding match".

"Yesterday and today I would have experienced the same feelings towards me, if I were in your place", said Fedor Smolov, sharing the blame for the quarter-final defeat in which he missed a penalty against Croatia.

Seated in the VIP section beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Russian premier, Grabar-Kitarovic could not contain herself as she rose up in a victory dance to celebrate Croatia's second goal.

Croatia had also needed spot-kicks to get past a dogged Denmark in the last 16, but Modric insisted they would not be exhausted for the last-four clash against England at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.